Inflammation is one those things that meets the definition of a two edged sword. One edge of inflammation is that it is a healthy action by your immune system in response to a wound or infection. The other, not so pleasant, edge is when your immune system overreacts or is prompted by continual assault from inflammatory agents and the result is prolonged inflammation that can drive imbalance like cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and arthritis or even processes such as ageing. So you want to reduce that excess inflammation if you can, the problem being that anti-inflammatory drugs can have side-effects so you really want to do it as gently as possible and that means food. Now a new study has identified those key anti-inflammatory foods that you can consume.
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The new study started from the base that inflammation is heavily driven by immune cells known as T-cells. These T-cells circulate the body looking for abnormalities in cells or infections. When they identify a problem they will release molecules called cytokines that stimulate the movement of white cells towards the site of inflammation, infection, and trauma. We know that cytokine activity is affected by intake of fruit and vegetables and we know that is because, in part, polyphenols from fruit and vegetables modulate the release of cytokines from white blood cells.
What we have not known is which polyphenols from which foods have the most potent anti-inflammatory effects. This is what was examined in the new study.
After analysis researchers from the University of Liverpool found that for people at risk of chronic inflammation the polyphenols derived from onions, turmeric, red grapes, green tea, and acai berries are the most potent.
So if you are feeling a touch inflamed (and its not just the rhetoric of politicians that is the cause) then these foods would be the ones to turn to.
